Method of mining oil and the like



Jan. 1, 1929.

E. G. SINCLAIR METHOD OF MINING OIL AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. l0, 1925 @hier wmp Patented Jan., l,

EWART G. SINCLAIR, OF CASPER, WYOMING, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIDWEST REFINING OOmPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.y

METHOD OF MINING OIL AND THE LIKE.

Applioation led August 10, 1825. Serial No. 49,254.

The invention relates to a novel method of mining deposits which produce or are associated with lethal or combustible gases, such, for example, as oil bearing sands, shale and the like, and hasv for its object not only to extract or recover the valuable mineral elements from the deposits, such as oil, but also to recover the gas produced by or associated therewith and utilize the recovered gas to the best advantage. To these ends, the invention comprises conducting the mining operations, in-those portions of the workings in which the gas is present, in an atmosphere of such gas and with a practical exclusion of air from the workings, the opera-tions being carried out by operators equipped with respiratory apparatus, of wellkuown types, which supplies the operators with the necessary complement of air or oxygen gas without permitting the escape of any of the latter.

An application of the invention, involving a typical installation of means for carrying out the method in the recovery of oil from a subterranean stratum is illustrated in the accompanyin drawing, but it is to be understood that t e illustration is merely exemplary and, in no sense, limitin Various methods of mining o1l or other gas producing deposits have been'suggested heretofore and some of these methods have been practically applied, but, in each instance, during the mining operations, in sofar as the same have been conducted-by man power, it has been regarded as absolutely necessary to free the workin in which the men operate of the combusti le or lethal gases, because of the danger of violent explosions of the combustible gases when mixedwith air, on the one hand, and of the eii'ect of the poisonous or sul'focating gases on the miners, on the other. According to the usual practice, the dangerous gases are excluded from the workings either by forcing said gases out of theworkings by heavy drafts of air or by preventing the gas from entering the drifts or workings where the men are engaged by forcing air, under heavy pressure, into the face of the workin the object of these alternative operations gas entering the Working at any time to form with the air an explosive mixture. Success ful operations of this kind, however, have been found practically impossible of accomplishment on a commercial scale, as in all oil or gas horizonsthere are areas of high ing to prevent sufficient dangerous gases, when the alternative method is practiced. Thesev methods, 'involving the employment of air either to sweepout dangerous gas or to confine the same withinthe face of the' working, have proven to be not only highly expensive, but have resulted, in many instances, in heavy loss of life due to explosions, as the least spark will i nite a mixture of air and combustible gas, W en the proportions of air and gas are right.

According to the present invention, it is proposed to carry out the mining operations in the workings under a substantially total exclusion of air and in an atmosphere of the gases produced in the mine, or of similar gases supplied to the workings, thereby eliminating the possibility of explosions as the gases are not combustible per se, the miners operating in said gaseous atmosphere being equipped with suitablekits of respiratory apparatus, such, for example, as those employed in mine rescue work.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustra-tes the invention as applied to mining an oil bearing stratum, l indicates the mine shaft, which may be sunk to penetrate any or all of the strata encountered, which latter may be in the form of oil bearing Sands, shale beds or other oil bearing formations, which shaft is equipped with the usual derrick 2 at the top thereof from which the elevator or hoist 3 is operated in the shaft by cables 4, all of which is common mining practice generally. Where the shaft 1 1s intersected by the drift 5, which leads to the working represented by the breast 6 of the oil bearing stratum, the drift is provided with an air-lock comprising spaced partitions 10, 10 extending transversely of the drift and provided with the usual air-tight doors 11, l1,'so that the drift and the working may be completely isolated from the shaft and all air excluded from the Working, entrance and exit to the working being effected through the air-lock, in the usual manner, as will be understood. The miners, or other operators, equipped with respiratory apparatus,.enter the Working by Way of the drift and they operate any of the well known types of machinery necessary for breaking down the oil bearing stratum, provided, however, that, if any 'pneumatic machinery is employed, the same be operated by compressed gas instead of air, the gas preferably being that recovered from the mine.

In most instances, the pressure of gas developed in the working will be heavier than that of the atmosphere and will serve to exi clude any air which might tend to seep into the working. In case the gas pressure developed in the working is not e the atmosphere, it is propose to supply the necessary deficit by anextra suppl of gas forced into the working, which e cit supply ma be taken from gas collected or stored romprior operations, or artificially produced. In order to withdraw the sur-f lplymg gas.

plus gas in the workin there is provided a Asuction pipe 20, whic extends along the drift andv is connected to a pump or blower 21, which withdraws the surplusI gas and delivers the same by pipe 22 to a suitable reservoir or gasometer 23 or if desired, to an appropriate plant where the gas may be treated for the extraction of gasoline or other constituents. if the aseous pressure in the working should fa yl below that of the atmosphere, the supply-pipe 25 is provided for delivering the proper amount of gas from an extraneousy source. to the working, the ipe or main 25 being provided with a suitable blower 26 to force the external supply of as into the working. l f desired, .means may be.provided for supplying the chamber or'air-lock between the partitions 10, 10 either with gas similar to that found in the working, or with air, in order to facilitate the operation of the lock in the transfer of men and material to and from the working. As indicated, a manifold 30 is located in the upper part of the airlock and is connected to a combination pump and blower 31, which is connected by main 32 to gasometer 35, said main having a lat.- eral branch 34 communicating with the atmosphere and controlled by al threeway valve 33, which latter may connect up the air-lock directly with the gasometer or with 'the atmosphere as the case may be, sothat the lock may be filled either with gas or with air, depending upon whether the trailic is en-` tering or leaving the working, as will be understood.

The workin will preferably be equipped with the usua accessories, lsuch as a tramual to that of' memes way. for conveying materials between the workin f and the shaft. Likewise the working wil be providedwith a suitable sump 15 to collect the oil freed Vfrom the sands, which sump is connected with the ipe-line 16 provided with a pump 18 for elivering the oil to a suitable reservoir 19.

Under theconditions describefhthe mining operations may be carried outwith facility and by means of the usual tools and accessories, including electrically or pneumatically operated machines, and with the concomitants of ordinary gas free mining o erations, including electric tramways, electric lightsand power circuits, without danger of explosions, as the gaseous atmosphere maintained in the working is not explosive unless admixed with air or an oxygen sup- It will be understood that the method can `be practicedin mining operations of various characters and extents and is not limited to mining oil bearing deposits, but is applicable to all miningvoperations which are accompanied by the production or liberation of gases dangerous :to-human life, either because of the combustibilit)T A thereof, when mixed with air, or due to vtheir lethal characteristics, the'only precautions necessa being the exclusionof air from the wor ingswithv and the equipment of the operators proper respiratory apparatus.

What I claim is:

1. The method of mining oil deposits and other lethal or combustible gas producing deposits, which comprises isolating the gas producing 4workings by suitable barriers, constantly maintaining an atmosphere of such gas in said workings at a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric, and to prevent the entrance of air therein, and effecting the excavating and removal operations in said atmosphere. v

2. The method of mining oil deposits and other lethal or combustible gas producing deposits, which comprises isolating the gas producing workings by suitable barriers', 

